Record changer

ABSTRACT

A record changer having a modular construction with a substantial reduction in the number of parts required for all of the normal record changer functions and having a mounting base with integrally-molded plastic parts defining various bushings, studs and other mountings for moving components of the changer. A common locating or reference point on the mounting base for a number of operative interengaging levers minimizes vertical and horizontal tolerances whereby the operating levers can be made of relatively inexpensively molded parts. The record changer has the operating parts designed and interrelated to perform maximum number of functions with a minimum number of parts which are easily assembled without the use of a number of mounting screws for the parts, including a cycle gear which derives power for a record change cycle from the turntable and which operates a rocker arm and has a single cam for powering the plurality of operating levers.

United States Patent Kolomayets et al.

Apr. 2, 1974 RECORD CHANGER Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince [75]Inventors: George Kolomayets, Chicago; Assistant Exammer st even StephanMartin C. Reed, Lake Zurich, both Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Hofgren,Wegner, Allen, of m. Stellman & McCord [73] Assignee: lvliiarwickElectronics Inc., Chicago, [57] ABSTRACT I A record changer having amodular construction with [22] Fled: May 27! 1971 a substantialreduction in the number of parts required [21] APPL NO; 147,499 for allof the normal record changer functions and having a mounting base withintegrally-molded plastic parts defining various bushings, studs andother U.S. R, l 1, 7 mountings for moving components of the change AGllb 17/16, 1332b 3/10, Flc 33/28 common locating or reference point onthe mounting Field of Search 10 base for a number of operativeinterengaging levers 248/19; 156/2 5; 161/109, 111 minimizes verticaland horizontal tolerances whereby the operating levers can be made ofrelatively inex- References Cited pensively molded parts. The recordchanger has the UNITED STATES PATENTS operating parts designed andinterrelated to perform 3,248,867 4/1966 Jepson et al...... 58/38maximum number of functions with a minimum 3 346,261 19 7 Kolomayets et1 274 S ber of parts which are easily assembled without the 3,394,9387/1968 Reed et al 274/10 R use of a number of mounting screws for theparts, in- 3,2l8,078 11/1965 Freiet 274/10 R eluding a cycle gear whichderives power for a record 3,197,212 7/1965 De weese 27m0 R change cyclefrom the turntable and which operates a E rocker arm and has a singlecam for powering the plu- 1 am 2,457,106 12/1948 Pressley 274 10 R ofoperatmg levers 1 16 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 22 h 64 T {0 i 1 9? 7 Eif S/ 1 v\\ z a l A f 1 ll Q 1 i T LT T.1' ':I.- 1&0 I 1 00 l l--\\\\\=I I \\\\v-f, axe A 4 91 =7. 14 7 ,4- l 2 4.1 I '74 /a-" 4. 40 42Z! I 3| 4 470 I PATENIEDAPR 2 m SHEET 1 0F 9 SHEH 3 OF 9 FATENTED APR 2I974 PATENTED APR 2 I974 SHEET 6 OF 9 PATENTEB APR 2 I974 SHKET 7 OF 9PATENYEU APR 2 I974 SHEU 8 0F 9 PATENTEU R 2 I974 SHEEI 9 BF 9BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a record changerfor playing records of different sizes and for performing an automaticrecord change cycle.

The prior art on record changers is extensive. In considering inventivefeatures of the record changer disclosed herein many prior art patentswere reviewed and, particularly, the following Pat. Nos. 2,457,106;2,529,474; 2,544,230; 2,803,465; 3,138,389; 3,197,212; 3,321,205;3,390,883.

None of the foregoing patents show a record changer having minimalnumber of parts for performing the normal record changer functions, witha common locating point for a plurality of operating levers to reduceand minimize vertical and horizontal tolerance prob lems; the improvedactuation of a record spindle mechanism with the spindle oriented totake advantage of this improved operation; the control of the outwardlimit position of the tone arm from the cycle gear through utilizationof the velocity trip link; the improved construction, mounting and setdown adjustment for the tone arm and the relation of the set down leverin association with the cycle gear for operation of the lever; and thestructure and mode of operation for the reject lever and last recordshut off lever.

The record changer disclosed herein represents a substantial reductionin cost, both in the cost of parts and assembly operations, by havingintegrally-molded bushings, studs and other mountings which are moldedonto the mounting base of the record changer in a plastic moldingoperation, with design of other parts, such as the cycle gear, fordirect mounting into and retention by the mounting therefor. Structuresusing plastic molded mounting parts in unrelated fields are shown inPat. Nos. 3,248,867, 3,397,531, 3,457,719, and 3,496,718.

SUMMARY The primary object of the invention is to provide aninexpensive, reliable record changer constructed to utilizeinexpensively-molded plastic parts as permitted by a design whichminimizes vertical and horizontal tolerances between the parts bymounting a plurality of operating levers at a common reference locationand with the levers in stacked engaging relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a record changer, asdefined in. the preceding paragraph, wherein the operating parts formedof plastic can be mounted directly onto bearings, studs and othermountings formed of plastic molded directly onto a mounting base ofsheet metal wherein separate bearings are not required and a plasticoperating part is movably mounted directly to a plastic mounting part.

Other objects of the invention relate to the record changer andparticularly the tone arm, both in the control of the positioningthereof through limiting outward movement by a velocity trip link whichengages between the tone arm and the cycle gear, a mounting of the tonearm including a flexible plastic mounting hub providing for simpleadjustment to control the set down position of the tone ann, andstructure for assembly of the tone arm and, particularly, the tubulararm thereof carrying the stylus which provides a firm mounting of thetubular arm to reduce rumble.

Another object of the invention is to provide a series of operatinglevers with a set down lever performing a plurality of functions andoperated from a cam on the cycle gear and with the cycle gear cam alsooperating a last record shut off lever, whereby a single cam on thecycle gear as well as a drive connection therefrom to a rocker arm ofthe record changer provides all of the power required for the recordchange cycle operation.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide simplification of anumber of structural components of the record changer whereby assemblyand repair oper- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan viewof the record changer in playing position, with the tone arm in positionto commence playing of a large diameter record;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mounting base and mechanism associatedtherewith and with the parts shown in playing position and with therecord overarm and tone arm omitted;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section, taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG.2, and with part of the turntable, motor-board, and record overarmshown;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary section, taken along the line 4A-4A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section, taken generally along the line 55 in FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section, taken generally along the line 66 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section, taken generally along the line 7-7 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2; with parts omitted and showing thepositioning of parts in a record change cycle at the time of ejecting arecord for movement to the turntable;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of structure shown at the right-hand end ofFIG. 8 showing the tone arm in a position for playing a large record;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with parts omitted and showing thecertain parts positioned in a last record shut ofi operation;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of a number ofcomponents of the record changer;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, exploded view of certain parts of the recordchanger shown in FIG. 11 as well as additional parts; and

FIG. 12A is a plan view of a tone arm mounting hub and associatedstructure shown in FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The record changer is showngenerally in FIGS. 1 and 4 and includes a motorboard, indicatedgenerally at 10, which carries a turntable drive unit, indicatedgenerally at 1 l, for engaging a downturned flange 12 of a turntable 15.The speed of rotation'of the turntable can be varied by adjustment of aslider 16 which, through linkage (not shown) adjusts the drive mechanism11 in a generally known manner for the desired speed required forplaying of a record. A large record 18, such as a conventional size12-inch record, is shown in position in FIG. 1 for playing by a tonearm, indicated generally at 20. The record 18 is positioned for playingby a spindle, indicated generally at 21, positioned at the center ofrotation of the turntable l and having provision for supporting a stackof records.

An overarm, indicated generally at 22, is conventional in recordchangers having a spindle 21 of the type shown and has an out-of-the-wayposition to one side of the record changer or an operative position asshown in FIG. 1 to coact with the record spindle 21 in holding a stackof records above the turntable. This overarm 22 is also used to sensethe absence of records in the stack to signal the requirement for a lastrecord shut off operation.

Additional controls for the record changer are shown in FIG. 1,including a slide 23 having three positions, as shown by the indiciaappearing in FIG. 1. The slide 23, as positioned, provides for normaloperation of the record changer while it has two additional positionsfor either turning off the record changer or causing a reject operation.These functions are carried out in a manner to be described.

A third slide 24 operates to control the set down position of the tonearm dependent upon the size of record to be played. This signal is setin manually, rather than having size sense mechanism providing foroperation which enables automatic intermix of different size records onthe spindle 21. This control of the set down position occurs in a mannerto be described.

The record changer mechanism is mounted on a mounting base, indicatedgenerally at 25, in the form of a sheet metal plate which rotatablymounts the turntable 15 and which is fastened to the motorboard bythreaded members extending through the motorboard l0 and threaded intoattachment members 26, 27, 28 and 29 formed of plastic and molded to themounting base 25.

A tubular plastic mounting post 30 (FIG. 4) extends upwardly from themounting base 25 and receives the spindle 21 with a hub 31 looselyfitted on the post and retained in position by a snap ring 32, fitted ina groove on the post. This hub has gear teeth 33 on its lower end forcoacting with a cycle gear 34 and has a flange at its upper end with athreaded shank therebeneath. The turntable tits under the flange and isheld on the hub by a nut 35 threaded onto the threads on the hub.

The plastic mounting post 30 is integral with a plastic mounting part 38having a cylindrical opening 39 for receiving a cylindrical section 40of the cycle gear 34. With this construction, the mounting base 25 canbe used with mold elements to have plastic parts molded directlythereto, such as the mounting part 38 and post 30, with a connectingflange 41. To assure a concentric opening in the mounting part 38 forthe cycle gear 34, a series of openings 42 are provided in the mountingbase 25 surrounding the cutout in the base which receives the mountingpart 38, whereby integral plastic sections 43 are formed in saidopenings to assure that the mounting part 38 remains in a concentriccylindrical shape upon cooling of the plastic. The cylindrical shank 40of the cycle gear is provided with a series of flexible finger sections45, each having a hook-shaped 'lower end whereby the cycle gear can beinserted into the mounting part 38 by inward movement of the fingers 45and when in final position the hook-shaped ends of the fingers engagethe underside of the mounting part 38 to hold the cycle gear in positionwith said engagement being sufficiently loose to permit free rotation ofthe plastic cycle gear 34 within the plastic mounting part 38.

The overarm 22 for the record changer is fastened to avertically-extending rod 50 (FIGS. 4 and 6) and is movable within aplastic mounting element 51 molded to the mounting base 25. The lowerend of the rod 50 I coacts with a pivotally-mounted plate 52 having apair of upstanding legs 53 andv 54 extending upwardly and looselythrough a pair of openings 55 in the mounting base 25 to permit'pivotingof the plate 52 from the full line position shown in FIG. 6 to thebroken line position. The plate 52 is yieldably held in the full lineposition by a pair of springs 56 fitted around the legs 53 and 54. Whenthere are no records remaining on the record stack, the overarm 22 androd 50 descend and are of sufficient weight to pivot the plate 52 to thebroken line position and to lower a hook 58 on the plate out of alever-retaining position to the broken line position shown in FIG. 6.The lower, broken line position of the plate 52 provides a signal that alast record shut off operation should be performed. The downwardpivoting of the plate 52 cannot occur until a certain point in thecycle, as described subsequently.

The record spindle 21, shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5, has acylindrical body 60 which is slotted along its length to receive anejector lever 61 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 62 by an elongate slot63 formed in the lever to permit vertical movement of the lever as wellas pivoting thereof. The pivot pin 62 rests in a groove on top ofmounting post 30 to properly locate the record spindle 21. Records aresupported on a shelf 64 provided on the spindle body 60. The shelf 64 ofthe spindle and the plane of movement of the ejector lever 61 extend ina direction which is normal to a line between the spindle and the tonearm mounting which is an orientation rotatably offset from the normalorientation. This orientation permits a direct sweep-action of a rockerarm 71 and a plastic element 77 carried thereon (both describedsubsequently) in acting along a line parallel to the plane of pivotingmovement of the ejector lever 61. The ejector lever 61 in a cycle ofoperation moves upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 5 and thenpivots in a clockwise direction with the upward movement placing theupper end of the ejector lever within a record hole and the clockwisemovement then moving the lowermost record off the shelf 64. The spindlebody 60 is releasably mounted within the mounting post 30 and is held inposition by a leg 65 of a spring shown in FIG. 4A engaging a groove inthe lower end of the spindle body. This spring has a series ofconvolutions 66 wound about a lower end of the attaching member 26 (FIG.4) with the leg 65 extending therefrom and captured by a plastic element67- molded to the mounting base 25 whereby the leg 65 remains in theposition shown even when the spindle body 60 is withdrawn from themounting post 30. The other leg 68 of the spring coacts with the ejectorlever 61 to urge it to the retracted position shown in FIG. 5. Thisspring leg 68 is captured by a plastic part 69 on the mounting basewhereby the leg remains in the position shown, even when the spindlebody 60 is withdrawn.

A central reference or location point is provided for a plurality ofoperating components of the record changer and specifically by a plasticmounting post 70 (FIGS. 4 and 11) molded in a cut-out in the mountingbase 25 and extending both above and below said mounting base. A rockerarm 71 is mounted for oscillation on the lower part of said mountingpost beneath the mounting base for operating the tone arm and thespindle ejector lever 61 in a change cycle operation and is driven fromthe cycle gear 34. The rocker arm 71 fits loosely on the mounting post70 and is retained in position by a pair of intumed depending plasticlegs 72 and 73 formed integrally with the underside of the attachmentmember 29 (FIG. 3) which engage and guide one end of the rocker arm 71while the opposite end is movably guided by the head of a threadedelement 74 threaded into the lower side of the attachment member 26(FIG. 4).

The rocker arm 71 has an opening 76 to movably receive a plastic member77 provided with a groove 78 to receive the lower end of the ejectorlever 61 and both elevate and pivot the ejector lever 61 in a recordchange cycle. The plastic element 77 has an internal opening 78 toreceive an upturned end 79 of a spring 80. The spring 80 is captured onthe rocker arm 71 and, by engagement with the plastic element 77 andwith the loose mounting of the latter in the slot 76 of the rocker arm,the plastic element is free to both slide and also rock, against theyieldable force of the spring 80. Full movement of the ejector lever inboth elevating and pivoting thereof is assured with overtravel of therocker arm merely resulting in sliding or rocking of the plastic element77. The rocker arm 71 is provided with a recessed groove 82 to receivethe lower end of the ejector lever when the rocker arm is near one limitof its oscillatory path of movement.

The rocker arm 71 is oscillated back and forth in a record change cycleby the cycle gear through means of a drive pin 84 extending down fromthe cycle gear 34 which engages in a slot 85 in the rocker arm.

The tone arm is mounted in the manner shown particularly in FIGS. 4, 12and 12A, with a plastic tubular mounting post 90 extending upwardly fromthe mounting base and formed integrally with the attachment member 29.The mounting post 90 rotatably mounts a clutch member 91 which fitsunder a set down cam element 92 having a tubular section 93 extending uparound the mounting post 90. A plastic mounting hub 94 fastens to thetubular section 93. A lift pin 95 extends upwardly through the mountingpost 90 and is urged downwardly by a spring 96 captured between a flange97 on the lower end of the lift pin and an insertable plastic member 98that fits into the base of the mounting post 90.

The tone arm mounting hub 94 has a pair of outwardly extending pivotpins 100 and 101 which rotatably mount a tone arm base 102 with atubular arm 103 of the tone arm 20 extending therefrom and carrying astylus 104 at an end thereof. I

The lift pin 95 is operated during a record change cycle by the rockerarm 71 to be elevated and engage the underside of the tone arm base 102to pivot the tone arm upwardly about the pivot pins 100 and 101 wherebythe tone arm can be swung to an outer position beyond the path of therecord being lowered to the turntable, with subsequent return of thetone arm to a position where it is lowered to set down position on arecord by lowering of the lift pin 95. As shown in FIGS. 4, 1 1 and 12,there is a depressed section of the rocker arm having sloped walls 1 10whereby when the rocker arm is at an inactive position the lift pin isin its lowered position at the base of the sloped walls and as shown inFIG. 4. During a cycle of operation, the rocker arm 71 moves and camsthe lift pin up along a sloped wall to the level of the rocker arm whichresults in lifting the lift pin 95 and at the end of the cycle the liftpin returns to its lower position. When the tone arm is lifted, it ismoved outwardly by means of an actuating pin 111 on the rocker arm 71which engages in a notch 112 in the clutch member 91. The clutch memberis lifted into firm engagement with the set down cam element 92 by themember 98 and the pins 114 and 115 thereon passing through openings inthe base of the mounting post 90 engaging the clutch member 91. As therocker arm moves, it moves the clutch member 91 which frictionallyengages the set down cam element 92 and causes outward movement of thetone arm. A pair of pins 116 and 117 on the clutch member 91 engage innotches in the underside of the set down cam 92 to make the movementmore positive.

On reverse movement of the rocker arm 71, the actuating pin 111functions to return the tone arm to a set down position, as determinedby mechanism to be described and as permitted by the clutch drivethrough the clutch member 91. The limit of outward movement of the tonearm is controlled by a velocity trip link 120 having a pair ofclosed-end slots 121 and 122 at'opposite ends thereof. The slot 121 fitsonto an upwardlyextending projection 123 on the cycle gear 34 (FIG. 4)at the center of rotation thereof while the slot 122 fits onto a pin 125extending upwardly from the set down cam element 92. The velocity triplink 120 is retained in association with the mechanism by a headed endof a forcing pin 176 referred to subsequently which overlies the triplink and floats relative to the set down cam element 92 by a constantforce member in the form of a weight 127 which loosely fits on the pin125. A spring could be used in place of the weight. The velocity tripoperation will subsequently be described. However, it will be noted thatthe dimension of the link and the slots is such that when the outer endsof the slots 121 and 122 are in engagement with the projection 123 andthe pin 125, the outward movement of the tone arm is positively limitedand continued actuation of the rocker arm and the clutch member 91 doesnot result in any further movement of the tone arm outwardly. The clutchmember 91 can move downwardly to release the pins 116 and 117.

The tone arm mounting hub 94 is positioned on the tubular section 93 ofthe set down cam element by integral fingers and is keyed thereto forrotation with the set down cam element. A series of flexible fingers130.

on the mounting hub 94 engage within a groove at the top end of thetubular section 93. The tone arm mounting hub 94 is formed of plasticwith a hinge section whereby the orientation of the mounting pins 100and 101 can be varied with respect to the'tubular part 136 of the hubwhich fits onto the cam extension 93 to provide a simple adjustment forthe set down position of the tone arm. The tone arm mounting hub has anintegral apertured leg 137 in alignment with an apertured section 138 ofthe hub and a threaded bolt 139 passes through said apertures andthreads into a nut 140 captured in a recess 141 in the hub section 138.A spring 142 surrounds the bolt and is captured between the hub leg 137and hub section 138. Rotation of the threaded bolt 139 results inflexing of the hub about the hinge section 135 to provide an accurateset down adjustment for the tone arm.

A record change cycle operation is initiated by a velocity tripmechanism including the trip link 120 previously referred to. Thisgeneral type of structure is known wherein the cycle gear 34 has anontoothed portion, as indicated at 150 (FIG. 2) which is opposite thegear teeth 33 on the hub 31 during play of a record or when the recordchanger is not in use. When a cycle is to be initiated, a trip pawl 151pivoted to the cycle gear at 152 is moved to a position wherein a ribformed on the hub 31 engages the pawl and imparts initial rotation tothe cycle gear 34 sufficient to bring the teeth thereon in engagementwith the hub teeth 33. A revolution of the cycle gear then occurs andcontinues until the nontoothed portion 150 again comes opposite the hubteeth 33. The trip pawl is operated by the velocity trip link 120 withthe latter link following the inward movement of the tone arm duringplay of the record. The velocity trip link 120 moves inwardly as thetone arm is tracking record grooves. At some point, the trip link willengage and move the trip pawl 151. However, the movement of the trippawl will be insufficient to cause cycle initiation and the trip pawlwill be moved backward by a hub tooth 33 along with the trip link 120which is permitted by the loose mounting of the trip link 120 to the pin125 on the set down cam under the urging of weight 127. When the tonearm reaches the final grooves of the record, the rate of inward movementof the tone arm, trip link 120 and trip pawl 151 is sufficiently fast toget the trip pawl in position to be engaged by a hub tooth 33 andinitiate the cycle.

The velocity trip link 120 is reset to its initial position by outwardmovement of the tone arm and the engagement of the ends of the slots 121and 122 thereof as previously described which also limits the outwardmovement of the tone arm. The trip pawl 151 is reset by a cam shape 155thereon engaging the hub 31. The reset position of the trip pawl 151 islimited by a stop 156 on the cycle gear 34.

In addition to the rocker arm 71, there are three primary operatinglevers of plastic causing various required operations of the recordchanger. These are a set down lever 150, a last record shut off lever160, and a reject lever 170. In order to minimize horizontal andvertical tolerance problems, the number of horizontal pivots for theselevers is held to a minimum and all three levers are referenced to asingle reference or location point and interengage at the commonreference point. The common point is the mounting post 70 which extendsupwardly through an elongate slot 171 in the set down lever 150, a pivotopening 1.72 in the last record shut off lever and an elongate slot 173in the reject lever 170. As shown in FIG. 4, these levers directlyengage with each other without the requirement for spacers or otherelements and rotate directly on the mounting post 70 without the use ofbearings. These levers are retained in position on the mounting post 70by a headed plastic expansion pin 175; which, when positioned within themounting post 70, is expanded by insertion of a forcing pin 176.

The set down lever 150 performs a number of functions. This lever formspart of the mechanism for setting the set down position of the tone armand detents the cycle gear in an inactive position. The set down leveris held out of interference with the set down cam element 92 duringoutward movement of the tone arm by a cam on the underside of the cyclegear 34. The set down lever 150 is pivoted to the mounting base 25 by adownwardly extending projection thereon fitting in a pivot opening 181in a plastic member 182 formed on the mounting base 25 and isspring-urged in one pivotal direction by a spring 183 connected betweenthe mounting base 25 and a pin 184 on the set down lever. A notch 185,at an end of the set down lever, coacts with an enlargement 186 at theleading edge of a cam 187 formed on the underside of the cycle gear 34to hold the cycle gear detented in the inactive position shown in FIG.2.

When a record changer cycle starts by rotation of the cycle gear 34, thegear rotates counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 and the cam 187continues to engage the adjacent end of the set down lever 150 to holdthe lever generally in the position shown in FIG. 2. When the end of theset down lever rides off the cam, the set down lever is then urgedinwardly by the spring 183 to a position where it can control the setdown position of the tone arm prior to playing of the next record. Thisset down position is established by the slide 24 set manually as shownin FIG. 1 which is connected to a link 190 with the link extending to aplastic size-setting cam 191 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 12) which is rotatablymounted in a tubular plastic mounting member 192 in the mounting base25. The size-setting cam 191 has three surfaces 193, 194 and 195 atdifferent radial distances which control the set-down position for 7inch, 10 inch and 12 inch records, respectively. The size-setting cam191 is rotatably positioned by operation of the slide 24 to position oneof the surfaces for engagement by an end 196 of the set down lever 150which correspondingly positions an upwardly extending lug 197 on the setdown lever for engagement with one of a plurality of steps 200, 201, and202 on the set down cam element 92. The steps 200, 201, and 202 are inseries and provide for differing lengths of return movement of the tonearm 20. Step 201 provides for set down on a 10 inch record and step 200for a 7 inch record.

As shown in FIG. 9, the size-setting cam 191 is positioned to positionthe set down lever 150 for a set down position for a 12 inch record,with the lug 197 on the set down lever in engagement with the step 202on the set down cam element 92. This holds the tone arm in a position tocome down in playing position on a 12 inch record while the rocker arm71 can continue to move with the drive pin 111 thereon merely rotatingthe clutch element 91 relative to the set down cam element 92. As thechange cycle comes to an end, the set down lever is moved out ofengagement with the set down cam element 92 by reengagement of theleading end cam 186 with the notch 185 in the set down lever to permitfree tracking of a record by the tone arm. The pin 184 on the undersideof theset down lever 150 extends through a slot 210 in the mounting baseas shown in FIG. 11.

The parts are shown in FIG. 8 in a position occurring during a changecycle and at the time of ejecting a record from the spindle shelf 64 tothe turntable with the set down lever 150 positioned against the surface195 of the size-setting cam 191 whereby as the tone arm returns inwardlythe set down cam element 92 is held (FIG. 9) in a position to cause thetone arm to set down for playing of a 12 inch record.

The reject lever 170 in addition to mounting on post 70 by elongate slot173 has a second pivot mounting provided by an elongate slot 250 wherebythe slots 173 and 250 provide two different pivot locations for thereject lever. The slot 250 engages under a headed mounting pin 251secured to the mounting base 25. A depending pin 255 on the reject leverextends through an opening 256 in the mounting base 25 to coact with anelectric on-off switch 258 for the record changer. This switch is shownin the on position in FIG. 2 and has a pair of legs 259 for coactionwith the pin 255. The reject lever 170 is controlled by the manual slide23 of FIG. 1 with a link 260 extending therefrom and connecting with anarm 261 of the reject lever. If the slide 23 is advanced to the ofposition, this results in pivoting of the reject lever 170 about pivotpin 251 to cause the pin 255 on the reject lever to engage the legs 259of the switch and shift it to the off position. A spring 265 engagesbetween a lever 266 to be described and the reject lever 170 to insurethat pivoting is about the pivot pin 251. Assuming the record changer isoff, movement of the slide 23 to the intermediate position will turn therecord changer on by actuation of the switch 258. Further movement ofthe reject lever by having the slide 23 moved to a limit position willcause pivoting of the reject lever about pivot mounting post 70 to havean arm 270 of the reject lever engage the trip pawl 151 and causerotation of the cycle gear to start a record change cycle. This rejectoperation can be effected at any time during operation of the recordchanger to terminate play of a record and cause a succeeding record tomove to the turntable.

The reject lever carries a pivoted catch member 300 (FIGS. 7, 10 and 11)which extends downwardly through an opening 301 in the reject lever andis utilized in a last record shut off operation. This catch member isformed of plastic with a pair of laterallyextending pivot pins 302 and303 fitted into openings in flanges in the reject lever and has anintegrally rearwardly extending spring leg 305 engaging the top of thereject lever 170 and yieldably urging the catch member to the positionshown in FIG. 7 but permitting upward movement thereof by flexing of thespring leg 305. This catch member coacts with structure on the lastrecord shut off lever 160, to be described.

The last record shut off lever 160 is shown in normal inactive positionin FIG. 2 and in active position in FIG. 10. Normally, the last recordshut off lever is held inactive by the catch 58 on the pivoted plate 52which is positioned by the rod 50, as shown in FIG. 6 and previouslydescribed. When there are no more records in a stack on the spindle 21,the plate 52 is urged to move to the broken line position shown in FIG.6 wherein the last record shut off lever 160 is released from the catchmember 58. This requires slight counterclockwise movement of the lastrecord shut off lever 160, as viewed in FIG. 2 before the actualmovement occurs. This movement is caused by the lever 266 pivoted on atubular plastic member 320 molded to the mounting base 25. The lever 266is held in position by a headed expansion plastic member 321 fitted inmember 320 and an expansion pin 322. A leg 325 of the lever 266 isengaged by the leading end 186 of cam 187 as a record change cyclestarts and another leg 326 of this lever engages an end 327 of the lastrecord shut off The lever 266 is urged to the position'shown in FIG. 2by the spring 265, previously referred to, and functions to return thecycle gear 34 to a normal detent position should it slightly overtravelbeyond the detent position shown in FIG. 2. The movement of the lastrecord shut off lever as caused by lever 266 only occurs at thebeginning of a record change cycle. Therefore, the absence of records onthe spindle shelf 64 is only detected by full lowering of the overarm 22at the beginning of a record change cycle when the cycle gear camleading end 186 pivots the lever 266 to retract the last record shut offlever 160 so that the plate 52 can pivot and catch 58 can drop.

Assuming that, at the beginning of the record change cycle, there are norecords on the shelf 64 of the spindle 21 the last record shut off lever160 will retract slightly and the catch 58 will drop which then freesthe last record shut off lever 160 to pivot clockwise as viewed in FIG.2 and to move beneath the set down cam element 92 and engage against asolid depending wall 341 on the setdown cam element. As the change cyclecontinues, the set down cam 92 is moved outwardly by the clutch member91, as previously described, until a lever end 340 of the last recordshut off lever clears the wall 341. The lever end 340 then moves to theposition shown in FIG. 10 under the urging of a spring 345 connectedbetween the last record shut off lever and the reject lever where it iscaught by a hook 350 at the end of the set down cam element 92 and isheld against further movement. This movement of the last record shut offlever 160 carries a lug 355 on the upper side thereof to a positionshown in broken line in FIG. 7 wherein it is positioned in front of thecatch member 300 on the reject lever 170.

The levers are then' positioned as shown in FIG. 10 and with the cyclegear 34 nearing the end of its rotation the leading end 186 of the cyclegear cam engages the lever 266 to pivot it in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 10. The leg 326 of the lever 266 is engaging the end 327of the last record shut off lever and movement of lever 266 pivots thelatter lever in a counterclockwise direction. The interengagementbetween the lug 355 and catch 300 causes pivoting of the reject lever170 about the pivot 251 to have the pin 255 on the reject lever engage aswitch leg 259 and turn off the switch 258 for the record changer. Thetone arm has been held out by the end 340 of the last record shut offlever engaging the set down cam element 92 and preventing inwardmovement of the tone arm.

When the record changer is again started with records on the spindle 21,an initial movement of the last record shut off lever 160 will occur, aspreviously described, whereby the last record shut off lever 160 clearsthe hook 58 and the plate 52 can move up to the full line position,shown in FIG. 6, because of there being records in the stack on thespindle 21 and the overarm 22 being elevated. This brings the hook 58into engagement with last record shut off lever 160..

The last record shut off lever 160 is normally held in position close tothat shown in FIG. 6 by the lever 266 engaging with the cam on the cyclegear 34. During the final moment of thelast record shut off operation,the

lug 355 in engaging the catch member 300 has shifted the reject lever toa position to turn off the switch 258 and, as a final part of thismovement, the lug 355 moves to the position shown in FIG. 2 out ofalignment with the catch'member 300. Manual operation of the slide 23 toagain turn on the record changer permits free movement of the rejectlever 170 without interference between the lug 355 and the catch member300.

To provide a mounting of the tone arm and the tubular arm 103 whichminimizes rumble a pair of openings 400 and 401 in the bottom walltubular arm 103 fit over I spaced pairs of ribs 402 and 403 on themounting base 102 which extend into the openings. The tubular arm 103 isopen-ended whereby a wedge pin 404 can be inserted in between the pairsof ribs 402 and 403 to expand these ribs into tight engagement with theside walls of the tubular arm 103. An end 405 of the pin closes off theend opening of the tubular arm 103.

As described previously, the rocker arm 71 is loosely guided on themounting post 70 and is loosely held in position by the plastic fingers73 engageable at one end of the rocker arm and the headed fasteningelement 74 loosely engageable with the other end. These elements are ina line including the lift pin 95 for the tone arm whereby any twistingforces that might be applied to the rocker arm by the drive pin 84 ofthe cycle gear are not applied to the lift pin 95. This preventsmovement of the lift pin responsive to such forces and any magnificationof such movements to the stylus 104 on the tone arm because of the longlever arm involved.

With the record changer construction disclosed herein the variouscomponent mountings can be molded integrally into the sheet metalmounting base 25 and various components including mounting levers canthen be mounted thereto and held in position by snap rings and expansionmembers of plastic to substantially reduce the time in assembly of therecord changer. The mounting of a plurality of operating levers at asingle reference location and the engagement directly therebetweensubstantially reduces vertical and horizontal tolerance problems andenables these levers to be made of inexpensively plastic molded parts.The entire mechanism is of a modular construction and directly mountsthe turntable whereby the record changer can be mounted in any desiredmanner with various structures.

Problems heretofore encountered with tolerance in record changer designare further reduced by providing for overtravel in various movements,such as outward movement of the tone arm and actuation of the ejectorlever 61 of the record spindle 21. The overtravel of the mechanism foroperating the tone arm outwardly is permitted by using the velocity triplink to set the outer limit position of the tone arm which also resultsin resetting the trip link. The overtravel of the mechanism foractuating the ejector lever 61 is permitted by the mounting of theelement 77 on the rocker arm 71 providing both pivoting and slidingthereof to yield when such overtravel requires yielding.

We claim:

1. A record changer having a mounting base with spaced-apart mountingsfor a rotatable tone arm and a record spindle, a set down cam associatedwith said tone arm, a pair of mountings on said base intermediate saidspaced-apart mountings with one for a rotatable cycle gear and the otherbeing a vertically-extending pin defining a reference location for aplurality of vertically-stacked levers including a set down lever, areject lever and a last record shut off lever, said pin extendingthrough said vertically-stacked levers, means including interengagingparts providing for interengagement between at least two of said levers,and said levers being in engagement one with another at said referencelocation to establish and maintain the vertical spacing thereof.

2. A record changer as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting base isformed of sheet metal with cutouts for said mountings, and each of saidmountings is defined by a plastic part molded to said base.

3. A record changer as defined in claim 2 wherein said plastic part formounting the cycle gear has a cylindrical opening, and said cycle gearhas a hub rotatable in said opening with a plurality of spring fingersloosely holding the cycle gear in assembled relation with its mounting.

4. A record changer as defined in claim 1 wherein said set down leverhas one end coacting with said cycle gear and another end coacting withthe set down cam, a velocity trip pawl on said cycle gear, and anelectrical power switch, said reject lever movable to operate said pawland said switch, and said means defining interengaging parts includingcatch elements on the last record shut off lever and said reject leverwhereby movement of the last record shut off lever in a last record shutoff cycle moves said reject lever.

5. A record changer as defined in claim 4 wherein said reject lever hasa pair of pivot points with one defined by said pin and another by asecond pin, said reject lever having means to permit pivoting thereofabout either of said pins with movement about said first mentioned pinactuating said pawl and further movement about said second pin actuatingswitch.

6. A record changer having a tone arm with an actuating lift pin forlowering and raising the tone arm, a mounting base, a rocker armpivotally mounted intermediate its opposite outer ends to said base,means on the rocker arm for actuating the lift pin, a cycle gear havingan eccentric drive pin engageable with the rocker arm to oscillate therocker arm through a cycle, and a pair of supports on said base for theouter ends of said rocker arm for movably guiding said rocker arm, withsaid supports, the lift pin and said rocker arm pivot mounting all lyingalong a straight line whereby any tipping movement of the rocker armwill be about an axis extending along said straight line to not causeany movement of the lift pin.

7. A record changer having a mounting base, a change cycle gearrotatably mounted on said base, a velocity trip pawl rotatably mountedon said cycle gear, a tone arm rotatably mounted on said base and havingan upstanding pin, a velocity trip link extending between said pin andthe velocity trip pawl, said trip link having opposite ends, a guide pinon said cycle gear at the axis of rotation thereof, and a pair ofelongate closed end slots adjacent opposite ends of said link with saidslots associated one with each of said pins, said slots beingdimensioned to have an end of each slot engage the associated pin anddefine a limit position for outward movement of the tone arm and at thesame time set the location of a link end to the velocity trip pawl.

8. A record changer as defined in claim 18 wherein said velocity triplink is frictionaily moved with the tone arm by means of a constantforce member fitted on said upstanding pin and urging said link againstsaid tone arm mounting.

9. A record changer as defined in claim 7 wherein said tone arm is movedout and in relative to a turntable during a record change cycle by poweroperated means including a clutch which permits overtravel of the poweroperated means when the tone arm is held in said limit position by thevelocity trip link.

10. A record changer having a turntable, a metal mounting base, arotatable tone arm and a record spindle spaced therefrom and at therotational center of the turntable, a rocker arm movable through arecord change cycle to operate said tone arm and spindle for change of arecord, and a cycle gear mounting on said base for operating said rockerarm, plastic elements molded to said mounting base providing mountingsfor said tone arm, spindle, rocker arm and cycle gear, cutouts in saidmounting base to receive said plastic elements, a series of smallopenings around at least one of said cut-outs and spaced therefrom toreceive plastic which is integral with the plastic of the plasticelement in position in said one cut-out, a molded plastic hollow studextending upwardly from the mounting base intermediate the cycle gearand the tone arm mounting, a series of operating levers of plasticmaterial including a set down lever, a reject lever and a last recordshut off lever, each of said operating levers having an opening toreceive said stud, said levers being verticallystacked on said stud sothat each lever is in movable engagement with the adjacent lever, apower switch operable by the reject lever, means for operating therecord changer through a last record shut off operation includingmovement of the last record shut off lever, and coacting means on saidreject lever and said last record shut off lever whereby movement of thelatter lever moves the reject lever to operate the power switch.

11. A record changer having a mounting base rotatably mounting a changecycle gear, a tone arm and set down cam connected for movement togetherand rotatably mounted on said base, a record size selector memberrotatably mounted on the base adjacent said set down cam, a set downlever pivotally mounted on said base and having one end adjacent thecycle gear and the other end adjacent said size selector member, saidset down lever having a locating flange adjacent said other end thereof,means yieldably urging said set down lever toward the size selectormember to control the position of the locating flange relative to theset down cam, and a cam on said cycle gear having an initial secinitialsection coacting with said one end of the set down lever during initialrotation of the cycle gear to hold the set down lever away from the setdown cam and size selector member.

12. A record changer as defined in claim 1 1 including a last recordshut off lever pivotally mounted to said base, means for locking saidlast record shut off lever in an inactive position and responsive toabsence of records in a stack to be played to free said last record shutoff lever from an inactive position for movement during a record changecycle, means on said set down cam for holding said last record shut offlever in an intermediate position when the tone arm is in an innerposition, means urging said last record shut off lever to a holdposition to engage and hold said set down cam in an outer position whenthe tone arm reaches its outermost position, and a power lever operableby said cam on the cycle gear to return the last record shut off leverto said inactive position.

13. A record changer as defined in claim 12 wherein a reject lever ispivotally mounted on said base and has a spring-loaded catch member, anelectrical switch operable by said reject lever, and a lug on said lastrecord shut off lever movable to a position adjacent said catch memberwhen the last-mentioned lever moves to said hold position wherebysubsequent return of the last record shut off lever to said inactiveposition shifts said reject lever to operate said switch to a changedcondition. 1

14. A record changer as defined in claim 13 wherein said set down lever,reject lever and last record shut off lever are each formed of moldedplastic and are stacked in engagement one with another and with a commonpivot point for said reject lever and last record shut off lever wherebyengagement between said lug and catch member is assured.

15. A record changer as defined in claim 13 wherein said reject lever isof one-piece plastic molded construction and has a pair of slots, eachof said slots receiving a pivot pin, spring means urging the rejectlever pivotally about one pivot pin with movement thereabout operatingsaid electrical switch, and movement about the other pivot pin causinginitiation of a record change cycle. I

16. A record changer as defined in claim 12 wherein said power lever isurged by spring means against the initial section of said cycle gear camto assist in holding said cycle gear in detent position and to returnsaid cycle gear to detent position if it should overtravel at the end ofa record change cycle.

zgz g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 0D d 2,

lnventofls) George Kolomayets and Martin C. Reed It is certifiedthat'error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Line of Claim 1 Claim (actual count) Correction 5 7 after "actuating"insert said-.,

8 l change "18" to 7.

l0 6 change "mounting" to -mounted-.

l0 l3 after "element" insert --in said one cut-out to lock the plasticelement--.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974,

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A record changer having a mounting base with spaced-apart mountingsfor a rotatable tone arm and a record spindle, a set down cam associatedwith said tone arm, a pair of mountings on said base intermediate saidspaced-apart mountings with one for a rotatable cycle gear and the otherbeing a vertically-extending pin defining a reference location for aplurality of verticallystacked levers including a set down lever, areject lever and a last record shut off lever, said pin extendingthrough said vertically-stacked levers, means including interengagingparts providing for interengagement between at least two of said levers,and said levers being in engagement one with another at said referencelocation to establish and maintain the vertical spacing thereof.
 2. Arecord changer as defined in clAim 1 wherein said mounting base isformed of sheet metal with cut-outs for said mountings, and each of saidmountings is defined by a plastic part molded to said base.
 3. A recordchanger as defined in claim 2 wherein said plastic part for mounting thecycle gear has a cylindrical opening, and said cycle gear has a hubrotatable in said opening with a plurality of spring fingers looselyholding the cycle gear in assembled relation with its mounting.
 4. Arecord changer as defined in claim 1 wherein said set down lever has oneend coacting with said cycle gear and another end coacting with the setdown cam, a velocity trip pawl on said cycle gear, and an electricalpower switch, said reject lever movable to operate said pawl and saidswitch, and said means defining interengaging parts including catchelements on the last record shut off lever and said reject lever wherebymovement of the last record shut off lever in a last record shut offcycle moves said reject lever.
 5. A record changer as defined in claim 4wherein said reject lever has a pair of pivot points with one defined bysaid pin and another by a second pin, said reject lever having means topermit pivoting thereof about either of said pins with movement aboutsaid first mentioned pin actuating said pawl and further movement aboutsaid second pin actuating switch.
 6. A record changer having a tone armwith an actuating lift pin for lowering and raising the tone arm, amounting base, a rocker arm pivotally mounted intermediate its oppositeouter ends to said base, means on the rocker arm for actuating the liftpin, a cycle gear having an eccentric drive pin engageable with therocker arm to oscillate the rocker arm through a cycle, and a pair ofsupports on said base for the outer ends of said rocker arm for movablyguiding said rocker arm, with said supports, the lift pin and saidrocker arm pivot mounting all lying along a straight line whereby anytipping movement of the rocker arm will be about an axis extending alongsaid straight line to not cause any movement of the lift pin.
 7. Arecord changer having a mounting base, a change cycle gear rotatablymounted on said base, a velocity trip pawl rotatably mounted on saidcycle gear, a tone arm rotatably mounted on said base and having anupstanding pin, a velocity trip link extending between said pin and thevelocity trip pawl, said trip link having opposite ends, a guide pin onsaid cycle gear at the axis of rotation thereof, and a pair of elongateclosed end slots adjacent opposite ends of said link with said slotsassociated one with each of said pins, said slots being dimensioned tohave an end of each slot engage the associated pin and define a limitposition for outward movement of the tone arm and at the same time setthe location of a link end to the velocity trip pawl.
 8. A recordchanger as defined in claim 18 wherein said velocity trip link isfrictionally moved with the tone arm by means of a constant force memberfitted on said upstanding pin and urging said link against said tone armmounting.
 9. A record changer as defined in claim 7 wherein said tonearm is moved out and in relative to a turntable during a record changecycle by power operated means including a clutch which permitsovertravel of the power operated means when the tone arm is held in saidlimit position by the velocity trip link.
 10. A record changer having aturntable, a metal mounting base, a rotatable tone arm and a recordspindle spaced therefrom and at the rotational center of the turntable,a rocker arm movable through a record change cycle to operate said tonearm and spindle for change of a record, and a cycle gear mounting onsaid base for operating said rocker arm, plastic elements molded to saidmounting base providing mountings for said tone arm, spindle, rocker armand cycle gear, cut-outs in said mounting base to receive said plasticelements, a series of small openings around at least one of saidcut-outs and spaced therefrom to receive plastic which is integral withthe plastic of the plastic element in position in said one cut-out, amolded plastic hollow stud extending upwardly from the mounting baseintermediate the cycle gear and the tone arm mounting, a series ofoperating levers of plastic material including a set down lever, areject lever and a last record shut off lever, each of said operatinglevers having an opening to receive said stud, said levers beingvertically-stacked on said stud so that each lever is in movableengagement with the adjacent lever, a power switch operable by thereject lever, means for operating the record changer through a lastrecord shut off operation including movement of the last record shut offlever, and coacting means on said reject lever and said last record shutoff lever whereby movement of the latter lever moves the reject lever tooperate the power switch.
 11. A record changer having a mounting baserotatably mounting a change cycle gear, a tone arm and set down camconnected for movement together and rotatably mounted on said base, arecord size selector member rotatably mounted on the base adjacent saidset down cam, a set down lever pivotally mounted on said base and havingone end adjacent the cycle gear and the other end adjacent said sizeselector member, said set down lever having a locating flange adjacentsaid other end thereof, means yieldably urging said set down levertoward the size selector member to control the position of the locatingflange relative to the set down cam, and a cam on said cycle gear havingan initial section coacting with said one end of the set down lever todetent the cycle gear and a cam surface adjacent said initial sectioncoacting with said one end of the set down lever during initial rotationof the cycle gear to hold the set down lever away from the set down camand size selector member.
 12. A record changer as defined in claim 11including a last record shut off lever pivotally mounted to said base,means for locking said last record shut off lever in an inactiveposition and responsive to absence of records in a stack to be played tofree said last record shut off lever from an inactive position formovement during a record change cycle, means on said set down cam forholding said last record shut off lever in an intermediate position whenthe tone arm is in an inner position, means urging said last record shutoff lever to a hold position to engage and hold said set down cam in anouter position when the tone arm reaches its outermost position, and apower lever operable by said cam on the cycle gear to return the lastrecord shut off lever to said inactive position.
 13. A record changer asdefined in claim 12 wherein a reject lever is pivotally mounted on saidbase and has a spring-loaded catch member, an electrical switch operableby said reject lever, and a lug on said last record shut off levermovable to a position adjacent said catch member when the last-mentionedlever moves to said hold position whereby subsequent return of the lastrecord shut off lever to said inactive position shifts said reject leverto operate said switch to a changed condition.
 14. A record changer asdefined in claim 13 wherein said set down lever, reject lever and lastrecord shut off lever are each formed of molded plastic and are stackedin engagement one with another and with a common pivot point for saidreject lever and last record shut off lever whereby engagement betweensaid lug and catch member is assured.
 15. A record changer as defined inclaim 13 wherein said reject lever is of one-piece plastic moldedconstruction and has a pair of slots, each of said slots receiving apivot pin, spring means urging the reject lever pivotally about onepivot pin with movement thereabout operating said electrical switch, andmovement about the other pivot pin causing initiation of a record changecycle.
 16. A record changer as defined in claim 12 wherein said powerlever is urged by spring means against the initial sectiOn of said cyclegear cam to assist in holding said cycle gear in detent position and toreturn said cycle gear to detent position if it should overtravel at theend of a record change cycle.